Jul 25, 2018, 12:08 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

The Polaris Lounge is United's Business class lounge for passengers in premium cabins on long-haul flights only. It is separate from the United Club locations and the arrivals lounge in SFO.

Currently there are PLs in EWR, IAD, IAH, LAX, ORD, and SFO.

Quick Guide to "Do I get access?"

Are you in Polaris (Business) class on a long-haul United metal flight to/from Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, French Polynesia, or one of these South American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru?

You get access at all airports the same-day. It does not matter if your flights are on the same ticket or same cabin.
"Same-day" is ambiguous and is interpreted differently by different agents with respect to itineraries that include an overnight connection. YMMV and this thread has examples both ways.
No guests. Unless on F on a partner.
Though not stated by United, includes AKL (Auckland, New Zealand) when service begins.
Examples:
- EWR-SFO-NRT, if SFO-NRT is on UA you get access in EWR and SFO
- NRT-SFO-EWR, if NRT-SFO is on UA you get access in SFO and EWR, even if SFO-EWR is a separate Y ticket.

Are you in Business/First class on a long-haul *A partner metal flight to/from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Africa, Middle East, or one of these South American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru?

You get access only at the airport where the long-haul flight departs.
At other airports along your route, you may have access to the United Club or other *A lounges. See here: Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread
Though not on United's stated list, access includes long-haul partner flights to Africa, Middle East, New Zealand, etc.
Guests: First Class (on flights with both First and Business cabins) only: you can bring 1 guest. Business class 0 guests.
Examples:
- EWR-SFO-NRT, if SFO-NRT is on NH you get access only in SFO, not at EWR
- NRT-SFO-EWR, if NRT-SFO is on NH you don't get any Polaris Lounge access because there is no Polaris Lounge in NRT, and you aren't eligible for SFO or EWR.

Are you on a United or partner short-haul international flight to/from Guam, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, or Ecuador?

You do not get access to the Polaris Lounge. However, you may qualify for access to the United Club. See here: Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread

Are you in Premium Economy, Economy Plus, or Economy on any flight?

You do not get access, unless you are connecting to/from a flight that gets access as described above.

Are you on a United domestic flight, including P.S. flights EWR-LAX, EWR-SFO, BOS-SFO?

You do not get access to the Polaris Lounge, even if you're flying in First on a wide-body plane with lie-flat "Polaris" style seats, unless you are connecting to/from a flight that gets access as described above.

Can I get access through status, membership, one-time pass, or any other method?

What else do it need for access?

~~Reports indicate that most PL's require a passport in addition to boarding pass for access. Some~~ locations may accept other forms of ID (driver's license, etc.). This appears to be a response to possible fraudulent attempts at access (e.g., double printing BPs for friends).

If eligible for access, who can I guest?

Only those departing on a *A airline in long-haul Int'l First on a plane w/ First and Business classes has guesting privileges. One guest only, and that guest must be departing on same flight, in any class..
Those in Polaris or qualifying International Business cannot guest another passenger.
~~If you are in an old Global First seat in United Polaris class, you cannot guest another passenger.~~ No longer relevant

More info

UA website outlining access for Polaris Lounge access

Photo ID required?There have been numerous reports from all Polaris Lounges of a photo ID being requested upon entry. Apparently, there have been some attempts to enter the PL with another person's BP (such as a traveling companion's). Recently there are reports that only a passport (not driver's license) is accepted at some lounges. More recent reports are UA has dropped the passport id requirement

Related Threads:
~~Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread)~~
ORD Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
SFO Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
EWR Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
IAH Polaris lounge (E11/12 - top fl) -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
LAX Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
IAD Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
~~United Polaris-New Business Class seats & in-flight service and new Polaris Lounges(wiki) (thread)}~~

Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread

Archive: Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread {Archive}

Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread

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Mar 8, 2024, 4:45 am

#571

cfischer

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2005

Location: BOS/EAP

Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat

Posts: 32,092

Is it on a single ticket? I have been successful with LH F and JFK (now granted that was originally EWR and had a change to JFK). Definitely worth trying.

SPN Lifer likes this.

Mar 8, 2024, 6:00 am

#572

Kmxu

Join Date: May 2012

Location: ORF, RIC

Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum

Posts: 6,958

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkc192

A bit of an edge case: arriving into EWR on a domestic flight and have a NH F flight departing from JFK several hours later. Wondering if I have a case for access to the EWR PL using my NH F BP and by virtue of EWR and JFK being NYC co-terminals. Anyone have experience in this exact scenario, or care to offer their opinions or speculation? Either way, assuming I travel as currently planned, I will plan to stop by and seek entry, in the name of research. I will have the regular UC as a fallback.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfischer

Is it on a single ticket? I have been successful with LH F and JFK (now granted that was originally EWR and had a change to JFK). Definitely worth trying.

Please try the Polaris lounge and report back. FTers want every unlikely edge case.

SPN Lifer, choch345 and priobagtag like this.

Mar 8, 2024, 11:00 am

#573

dkc192

Join Date: May 2007

Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist

Posts: 5,475

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfischer

Is it on a single ticket? I have been successful with LH F and JFK (now granted that was originally EWR and had a change to JFK). Definitely worth trying.

Nope, separate tickets. Will definitely try and report back. Thanks all for your opinions and speculation!

Mar 8, 2024, 3:36 pm

#574

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 66,861

PL access rules explicitly state partner access is for PL at the departing airport

SPN Lifer and m.y like this.

Mar 8, 2024, 3:50 pm

#575

cfischer

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2005

Location: BOS/EAP

Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat

Posts: 32,092

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkc192

Nope, separate tickets. Will definitely try and report back. Thanks all for your opinions and speculation!

yeah, I doubt separate tickets will work. If you have a UA BP from your originating station and a single ticket for a co-terminal I guess it can work (worked for me); separate tickets will be tricky, but who knows

Mar 11, 2024, 1:54 am

#576

FlyHigh23

Join Date: Feb 2012

Location: LAX

Posts: 295

NonRev Access

Do NonRev (non UA staff) get access to Polaris if cleared in J for Oceania flights?

Mar 11, 2024, 5:05 am

#577

Kmxu

Join Date: May 2012

Location: ORF, RIC

Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum

Posts: 6,958

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyHigh23

Do NonRev (non UA staff) get access to Polaris if cleared in J for Oceania flights?

NonRev gets a seat assignment very late, I.e., after boarding is underway. There is not much time left before boarding door closes.

SPN Lifer likes this.

Mar 11, 2024, 7:05 am

#578

United747

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: ORD

Programs: UA 1K

Posts: 4,220

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyHigh23

Do NonRev (non UA staff) get access to Polaris if cleared in J for Oceania flights?

Even with a non rev Polaris boarding pass, most employees and their benefit-users are not allowed to access the Polaris lounge

Kmxu likes this.

Mar 11, 2024, 1:38 pm

#579

tx_wiingman

Join Date: Jan 2022

Location: IAH

Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold

Posts: 99

My co-worker is visiting family in Guam later this month in paid biz/first. All UA metal.

Outbound:
IAH-LAX-HNL-GUM

Return:
GUM-NRT-SFO-IAH

Where will he have Polaris access? What other lounges will he have access to if not Polaris?

Kmxu likes this.

Mar 11, 2024, 1:43 pm

#580

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 66,861

Quote:

Originally Posted by tx_wiingman

SFO & IAH PLs on the return, the only Polaris marketed flight will be NRT-SFO. For the rest they will have access to the UC at the airport.

SPN Lifer likes this.

Mar 11, 2024, 2:16 pm

#581

ironmanjt

Join Date: Mar 2003

Location: anywhere and everywhere

Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion

Posts: 5,529

Quote:

Originally Posted by tx_wiingman

My co-worker is visiting family in Guam later this month in paid biz/first. All UA metal.

“paid” never matters (unless you’re comparing it to nonrev)

Mar 11, 2024, 3:56 pm

#582

FlyHigh23

Join Date: Feb 2012

Location: LAX

Posts: 295

Quote:

Originally Posted by United747

Even with a non rev Polaris boarding pass, most employees and their benefit-users are not allowed to access the Polaris lounge

Is this only if they are waiting for no shows? What about if there are J seats open?

And if no J do they automatically move to Y or do you need two separate listings?

Mar 11, 2024, 4:48 pm

#583

ironmanjt

Join Date: Mar 2003

Location: anywhere and everywhere

Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion

Posts: 5,529

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyHigh23

Is this only if they are waiting for no shows? What about if there are J seats open?

And if no J do they automatically move to Y or do you need two separate listings?

Not sure what you're asking here, but nonrevs aren't allowed in the Polaris lounge. Period.

SPN Lifer and uanj like this.

Mar 11, 2024, 5:21 pm

#584

United747

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: ORD

Programs: UA 1K

Posts: 4,220

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyHigh23

Is this only if they are waiting for no shows? What about if there are J seats open?

And if no J do they automatically move to Y or do you need two separate listings?

That’s a great question to ask the United employee who is providing the flight benefits.

jsloan, SPN Lifer and ironmanjt like this.

Mar 12, 2024, 4:37 am

#585

FlyHigh23

Join Date: Feb 2012

Location: LAX

Posts: 295

Quote:

Originally Posted by United747

That’s a great question to ask the United employee who is providing the flight benefits.

I’m the employee of a different airline. We get reciprocal standby benefits on United so wasn’t sure how it worked.